3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Occasion  \Oc*ca"sion\  ([o^]k*k[=a]"zh[u^]n),  n.  [F.  occasion,  L. 
  occasio,  fr  occidere  occasum  to  fall  down  ob  (see  {Ob-}) 
  +  cadere  to  fall.  See  {Chance},  and  cf  {Occident}.] 
  1.  A  falling  out  happening,  or  coming  to  pass;  hence  that 
  which  falls  out  or  happens;  occurrence;  incident. 
 
  The  unlooked-for  incidents  of  family  history,  and 
  its  hidden  excitements,  and  its  arduous  occasions. 
  --I.  Taylor. 
 
  2.  A  favorable  opportunity;  a  convenient  or  timely  chance; 
  convenience. 
 
  Sin,  taking  occasion  by  the  commandment,  deceived 
  me  --Rom.  vii. 
  11. 
 
  I'll  take  the  occasion  which  he  gives  to  bring  Him 
  to  his  death.  --Waller. 
 
  3.  An  occurrence  or  condition  of  affairs  which  brings  with  it 
  some  unlooked-for  event;  that  which  incidentally  brings  to 
  pass  an  event,  without  being  its  efficient  cause  or 
  sufficient  reason;  accidental  or  incidental  cause 
 
  Her  beauty  was  the  occasion  of  the  war.  --Dryden. 
 
  4.  Need  exigency;  requirement;  necessity;  as  I  have  no 
  occasion  for  firearms. 
 
  After  we  have  served  ourselves  and  our  own 
  occasions.  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
  When  my  occasions  took  me  into  France.  --Burke. 
 
  5.  A  reason  or  excuse;  a  motive;  a  persuasion. 
 
  Whose  manner  was  all  passengers  to  stay,  And 
  entertain  with  her  occasions  sly.  --Spenser. 
 
  {On  occasion},  in  case  of  need  in  necessity;  as  convenience 
  requires;  occasionally.  ``That  we  might  have  intelligence 
  from  him  on  occasion,''  --De  Foe. 
 
  Syn:  Need  incident;  use  See  {Opportunity}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Occasion  \Oc*ca"sion\  ([o^]k*k[=a]"zh[u^]n),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p. 
  {Occasioned}  (-zh[u^]nd);  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Occasioning}.] 
  [Cf.F.  occasionner.] 
  To  give  occasion  to  to  cause  to  produce;  to  induce;  as  to 
  occasion  anxiety.  --South. 
 
  If  we  inquire  what  it  is  that  occasions  men  to  make 
  several  combinations  of  simple  ideas  into  distinct 
  modes.  --Locke. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  occasion 
  n  1:  an  event  that  occurs  at  a  critical  time;  "at  such  junctures 
  he  always  had  an  impulse  to  leave";  "it  was  needed  only 
  on  special  occasions"  [syn:  {juncture}] 
  2:  a  vaguely  specified  social  event;  "the  party  was  quite  an 
  affair"  [syn:  {affair},  {social  occasion}] 
  3:  reason;  "there  was  no  occasion  for  complaint" 
  4:  the  time  of  a  particular  event;  "on  the  occasion  of  his  60th 
  birthday" 
  5:  an  opportunity  to  do  something  "there  was  never  an  occasion 
  for  her  to  demonstrate  her  skill" 
  v  :  give  occasion  to 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z